Afghan migrant found guilty of raping two teenage girls in Bolton, England

Afghan migrant Sultani Bakatash (also reported as Sultani Bakatas), 29, was convicted at Bolton Crown Court in Greater Manchester of two counts of rape of girls under 16, one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. The offences involved grooming the 14‑year‑old victims via Snapchat, inviting them to his home, and drugging them with alcohol before raping them while they were unconscious. Bakatash arrived in Britain in 2022 after fleeing the Taliban, having previously assisted British forces in Afghanistan. Chief Superintendent Helen Critchley thanked the survivors for their bravery. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 September.

The case highlights concerns about online grooming and the safety of minors in the United Kingdom.